The first fossil of the American lion was found in Natchez, Mississippi, in 1836, but paleontologist Joseph Leidy didn’t identify it until nearly 20 years later.

“I have had very important artifacts and fossils come into my outreach programs and events, but nothing as significant as the newly discovered American lion fossil,” she told McClatchy News.

Barges stranded by low water in the Mississippi River in Rosedale, Mississippi, a small town near where the lion fossil was found Scott Olson / Getty Images While exploring a newly exposed sandbar ...

From saber-toothed cats to massive, ancient whales, MS is rich in fossils. Here's why 'This is just such a rich environment and the fossil record is a testament to that.